Recent News

Friday, August 9, 2013

Oklahoma is one of 27 states which have stated a clear intent NOT TO expand Medicaid [Forbes]. This is a clear 'brinkmanship' maneuver where Obama is going to try to stare down the Governors and when millions of poor people are priced out of the market (a 60 yr old Oklahoman working part time may have to pay 75% of his gross income to buy a required policy), Obama will call the governors 'heartless' and the governors will either hang together or buckle under separately.

The poor don't make enough to be given subsidies

What makes the situation even worse is that many current insurance programs designed by states for the self-employed and lower-income individuals, will cease to exist at the end of 2013. Why? because they were designed with the support of George W. Bush's presidency and receive federal Medicaid grants. Obama sees these programs as a threat to his preferred version of socialism and he ordered his HHS secretary to de-fund all of them.
This chart shows the projected 2014 typical cost for a single 60 year old Oklahoma man or woman. Notice how those part time workers making less than $11,400 annually will be forced to go without any insurance and pay a federal fine. Oklahoma currently has over 5000 people in this income bracket buying coverage from Insure Oklahoma but Obama is forcing it’s closing.
Most Oklahomans would be surprised to find out that Medicaid coverage is only available for individuals who make less than $3,492, annually (unless a successful federal disability claim has been deemed). But ObamaCare subsidies are only given to individuals who make at least $11,400, annually. So what happens to those who only made between $4 - 11 thousand? This would include college students, injured people, laid off workers, and those of diminished stamina.

Sadly, so many citizens of very limited means who have done their best to at least pay for part of their health coverage, will soon be reverting back to exploiting the emergency rooms or suffering the ravages of calamity and disease. Oklahoma public health leaders have worked so hard to find solutions for universal coverage goals. It is intolerable that a pig-headed socialist in the White House is willing to create so much suffering and lie with a straight face, calling his opponents heartless.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Although SSNs are issued in some order,there is no simple way to tell a person's age based on his SocialSecurity number.

What do the numbers mean?

SSNs are not assigned consecutively; the first was not the lowest number, and the most recent is not the highest. They are assigned regionally and in batches.

The nine-digit SSN, which has been issued in more than 400 million different sequences, is divided into three parts: area numbers, group numbers and serial numbers.

Area numbers - The first three numbers originally represented the state in which a person first applied for a Social Security card. Numbers started in the northeast and moved westward. This meant that people on the east coast had the lowest numbers and those on the west coast had the highest. Since 1972, the SSA has assigned numbers and issued cards based on the ZIP code in the mailing address provided on the original application form. Since the applicant's mailing address doesn't have to be the same as his residence, his area number doesn't necessarily represent the state in which he resides. For many of us who received our SSNs as infants, the area number indicates the state we were born in. You can find out which area numbers go with each state at SSA.gov: Social Security Number Allocations.

Group numbers - These two middle digits, which range from 01 through 99, are simply used to break all the SSNs with the same area number into smaller blocks, which makes administration easier. (The SSA says that, for administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the odd numbers from 01 through 09, and then even numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number assigned to a state. After all the numbers in group 98 of a specific area have been issued, the even groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by odd groups 11 through 99.)

Serial numbers - Within each group designation, serial numbers -- the last four digits in an SSN -- run consecutively from 0001 through 9999.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Okay, let's talk about yesterday's Supreme Court ruling. My take is; "Affirmative Action" and other govt. interventions are only just when applied to current inequities. To force preferential treatment for discrimination of past generations, is 'court-ordered reckless vengeance! The person or group seeking relief for wrongs, must identify the entities specifically responsible for the harm. The Supreme Court got it right when they declared yesterday, that current data must be used, rather than the findings of 40 years ago. Racial harms still exist, but the current forms may surprise you.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Friday, June 14, 2013

People of firm conviction are generally a noble group. Like any group, they occasionally have an individual whose behavior doesn't reflect well on the rest.
I'd rather have people of 'inconvenient' convictions working with me, than people whose only conviction is getting power. The professional political class often exploit all of us.
Ultimately it is the strength of convictions which bring the strongest reforms. The folks who brought the American Revolution were a very small and radical minority, at first.
The Republican party has generally adopted all the principles of the "Liberty Wing". So there isn't a mainstream rejection among the party base. It's the Republican elected officials who often violate the party principles.
As a known 'Social Conservative" I have found so much common ground with noble people in the Liberty Wing. We work hard together. I go to rallies they organize. They even seek my perspective so as to grow and relate to the rest of the conservative movement.
Often, a few of them make the mistaken notion that they are the only sect which truly believes in Liberty. I have to assert to them that Liberty Lovers exist throughout the broader conservative movement. The fact that James Dobson focuses so much effort on family-friendly policies, doesn't mean he isn't also passionate about restoring a solid monetary policy and ending the UN's influence in our American public policy & law.
The most difficult group to find consensus with might be those who gain monetarily from political connections. Money does corrupt and good leaders must be ever vigilant against it's power to hijack their initial values. But those who fall under the spell of power or money are no better than a band of pirates masquerading as an incumbents club. The Republican base must continually watch out for these instances and also be careful not to replace a bad leader with one who's worse.
We have before us a great opportunity for a political 'flanking maneuver'. We can limit big government and oppressive socialism by working as Liberty-Loving, Socially Conscious, Restorers of Prosperity.

A huge challenge for any movement is to acquire the money needed to advance an agenda. Some of those willing to fund a campaign are really just trying to leverage a greater personal kickback through the access their money gives them. We cannot allow them to hijack our nation's survival. But there are many good people of significant means who are looking for worthy messengers of reform. They love the nation and have hopes for her better future.

...And we'll be there, even after the cameras leave, and after the
attention turns elsewhere. Your country will remain, and ever ready
to help you recover and rebuild, and reclaim your community

According to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, FEMA said it reviewed the state’s appeal to help but decided that the explosion “is not of the severity and magnitude that warrants a major disaster declaration.”

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

“He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavored to ... cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.”

Monday, May 13, 2013

Saturday, April 27, 2013

The 'Golden Years' of American Immigration was a time of special sentimental significance to so many of us Americans. Some years ago I took my young family to the great 'shrines' of New York Harbor.

Mary & Hector Van Risseghem

The Statue of Liberty is special, but our first stop was to Ellis Island. It was here that my ancestors passed through, hoping that they wouldn't be turned away.

In 1924, the US enacted a very racist immigration policy which contributed to untold world suffering and genocide, during WWII. The Johnson-Reed Act (also called 'the Asian Exclusion Act')remained US immigration policy until 1965. It's aim was "to preserve the ideal of American homogeneity". The terms of the act were:

prohibiting the immigration of Middle Easterners, East Asians, &Indians.

prohibiting Jews, Italians, & Sicilians as "as the prototype of immigrants who could never be assimilated".

use of the population of the United States in 1890 as the basis for calculating quotas

Lindbergh enters political activism

America went through a very racist period, during the years between the World Wars. The Ku Klux Klan was at the pinnacle of political influence. Even a US president was a member.

Charles Lindbergh openly declared the supremacy of the Scandinavian race. He openly defamed the American Jews and sought to weaken their influence in the national media. Lindbergh was the son of a U.S. congressman and learned early, how to parlay popularity into social activism. By the time the U.S. entered WWII, Lindbergh was greatly discredited and broadly despised.

Darwin, on 'preserving favoured races'

Charles Darwin published a massive 'scientific' publication to justify racism. While we often refer to the book, "On the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selectionor the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life". Few of us pay attention to the latter part of the title. But it added a sense of justification to open practices of racism in society and public policy.

An influential member of New York society, Margaret Sangersought to suppress the populations of Italians & Jews through an organization we now call ' Planned Parenthood'. She argued; "[Slavs, Latin, and Hebrew immigrants are] human weeds ... a dead-weight of human waste ... [Blacks, soldiers, and Jews are a] menace to the race.". "Eugenic sterilization is an urgent need ... We must prevent multiplication of this bad stock."

Post WWII, British imprisonedseveral thousand Jews in Cyprus, trying to stop them from forming an Israeli nation

There was a world wide persecution of Jews during the 20's, 30's, & 40's. They were explicitly forbidden from immigration to the U.S. & most other nations. Being trapped in Europe led to their mass extermination by Nazi & Soviet governments. Even after WWII, the British held many Jews in concentration camps indefinitely, to inhibit the Zionist repatriation of a Jewish State. It was only through guerrilla war tactics and sheer tenacity that Palestinian Jews eventually declared their independence from a hostile British occupation. Many of modern Israel's heroic leaders were once labeled 'terrorists' by their British occupiers.

Solzhenitsyn ExposesSoviet Evils

America changed immigration policy in the 60's. Cold war pragmatism led to open door status for anyone fleeing communist suppression. Cubans flooded Florida to escape Castro's communist oppression Worldwide public relations battles were played out over the emigration of Alexander Solzhenitsyn and Natan Sharansky. When the cold war fizzled from our fears, America's pragmatic openness became less generous.

Haitian Boat People

What should our immigration policy be? Will pure ideals of equality and generosity be workable? Will pragmatic concerns for an applicant's wealth, heritage, or education be defensible to the political factions and racial special interests?

A former boss of mine in the 90's; objected to my involvement in Senator Phil Gramm's presidential campaign. His most direct criticism was that the senator's wife "doesn't look American" (Wendy Gramm is of Asian ancestry). My direct reply was; "What does an American look like?". He walked away with a fierce disgust, but said nothing because another one of his employees was standing too near, and she was also of Asian ancestry.

Fortunately, it's getting harder and harder for racists to openly practice their bigotry. But too often they still mask it in justifications of pragmatism. Yes, there are real concerns for having 'open borders'. But bigotry and separatism are not one of my 'excusable' reasons for keeping people out.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Why can't Tulsa keep her former congressmen? Every 1st District representative since Page Belcher has somehow gotten addicted to the Washington culture and circles of cash & influence. Since then, Tulsa has never had a retired or defeated congressman settle back here and pretend to be "one of us".

Belcher

Page Belcher

Page had formerly served the dissolved 8th Oklahoma Congressional District, then he moved to Tulsa after the heavily Democrat Oklahoma Legislature tried to alienate his Enid home from the redrawn district. He remained Tulsa's representative until the 1971 redistricting sliced heavily Republican South Tulsa out of district 1, to aid James Jones' political aspirations. The 72 year old Belcher retired back in Oklahoma and died in 1980.

Jones

James Jones

'Jim' served in the 1st District from 1973-1986. He then served in the Clinton & Obama administrations, as well as consulting foreign corporations & lobbying. He was a very controversial ambassador to Mexico and helped Obama attempt to close down the enemy combatant detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Inhofe

James Inhofe

When Jones tried to unseat Sen. Don Nickles in the U.S. Senate, Former Tulsa mayor, James Inhofe won the open 1st district seat and served until his successful 1994 run for Oklahoma's vacant U.S. Senate seat. Jim still serves in that capacity, now approaching his 80's. He commutes from his Oklahoma home, weekly.

Steve Largent

Largent

Steve had finished a hugely successful NFL Hall of Fame career prior to settling in Tulsa. When Inhofe left the 1st district seat open, Largent won a 6-Republican primary and coasted to 4 terms. While in congress, Largent decided to step aside and run for Oklahoma Governor. After his 2002 loss, he moved back to D.C. & accepted the position as head of Amreica's wireless communications trade group. The advocacy, education and lobbying work has been the primary focus of Largent's career for 10 years. His popularity in Washington greatly aided his appointment to the lead position in the trade group. He lives in the D.C. area.

Sullivan

John Sullivan

John left the Oklahoma legislature to run for the open 1st district seat in 2002. The underdog, Sullivan, defeated former 1st lady, Kathy Keating and coasted to 5 terms in office. In 2012, Sullivan lost in a primary to Tea Party favorite & newcomer, Jim Bridenstine. The shocking and bitter defeat was a difficult end to Sullivan's political aspirations. Sullivan now resides in the D.C. area and does consulting and lobbying for his clients, taking advantage of his ties to fellow legislators.

Every one of these men convinced us that they were, at heart, one of us. We don't hear much from any of them (except Inhofe). Perhaps Tulsa doesn't offer them the thrill of political & legislative competition? Perhaps they've assimilated to the culture of Washington and find Tulsa a bit boring?

Bridenstine

Jim Bridenstine

Jim was an active reserve naval pilot, right up to the month he was made our congressman.Tulsa now has a freshman who made campaigning look easy. Some already have ambitions to take him on in the 2014 primary? Whatever comes, my advice is; stay close to the voters and don't let us feel you've become alienated to our way of life. I hardly think Bridenstine needs this advice this early in his political life. But one day it might help him.

Teddy Roosevelt also salutes you. It is a special honor to be 'The Man In The Arena'.

To Matt, Pam, their appointees, and all the outgoing committee members: Thanks for serving with great distinction! These have been magical years.

To the new leadership: David & Sara Jo, I stand by you, as do your former opponents who honestly believe they could also lead, if called upon. Please call on all of us and be the leaders whom we will all be proud to stand by. We know you are competent, but we will also forgive your humanity and be patient with your limitations. We will appreciate your transparency and even expect it, as a sign that you too, have confidence in us.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Today's Oklahoma Republican Party has some of the finest new party candidates for the upcoming State Convention. All of the candidates have volumes to further the conservative political values of Oklahoma's Republicans. While many in the party may have limited interaction with some or all of the 4 major candidates; a bit of research will quickly result in a wealth of insight.

This is our first state convention which does not have a gender mandate for the elections. In past year, going back to the Gerald Ford era, we had to select a man for one office and a woman for the other.

State ChairmanCandidates:

State

Vice Chairman

Candidates:

Below, you'll find a brief introduction by each of them and a link to further contact information. All of them are professing Christians.

Chairman Candidates

David Weston is a longtime activist and leader, Dave has served multiple capacities in local and state positions for the Oklahoma Republican Party. For over a decade Dave has played a critical leadership role throughout OKGOP operations and committees. David resides just south of the OKC area. WestonForChair.com

Denise Crosswhite-Haderhas worked on numerous campaigns on the local, state, and federal levels since she was 14; including as the Field Rep. for the 5th Congressional District in Central Oklahoma. In 2004, she ran for State Senate & later was a coordinator on the campaign staff of Dr. Tom Coburn . She currently works as the Legislative Liaison for Labor Commissioner Mark Costello. Denise resides in the OKC area. Denise-Crosswhite-Hader, on Facebook

Richard Engle is a husband, father, Author, philanthropist, and statesman. He has volunteered in many capacities of party leadership. He was runner-up in last year's narrow race for RNC committeeman. Richard Engle of Facebook

Each of these candidates have brought civic-minded people together for noble causes. Each of them is intelligent and ambitious about the opportunities that lay ahead.

It is the conclusion of this writer, that all of the candidates present a good choice with unique strengths belonging to each of them.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Oklahoma Republicans are "ramping up" for a big convention in a couple weeks. All of the preliminary county conventions have completed their biennial leadership selections. What transpired in many counties is worth some observation. County elections statewide are signaling a significant shift in party coalitions and elected party officials.

The emergence of the Tea Party grassroots movement is bringing about a major realignment of priorities for many long-standing party members. The days of banking lobbyists and ruling class blue-bloods running the party.... may be diminishing even more.

The national politics of gun control, socialized medicine, federal debt, and bloated bureaucracy is becoming the driving force of Oklahoma's Republican Party Growth. Like any growth, certain sectors within a large group become more influential.

The pro-family activists who established a plurality victory for Rick Santorum in last year's Oklahoma presidential primary are finding themselves largely aligned with the 'constitutional conservatives' who preferred Ron Paul.

A contentious 2012 OKGOP convention

What may be driving many of them to each other's aid is the propensity of the 'business-class' Republican leadership who skirted many party rules at a number of Republican conventions, last year. When Mitt Romney outlasted many of his opponents in the Spring months of 2012, his people wasted no time setting up shop at the RNC and started sending directives to many state party leaders. Long-standing traditions and rules of process were suddenly scrapped for convenient outcomes-based processes which the rank & file found either embarrassingly tolerable or an outright theft of due process. Even the 2012 state convention chairman was a hand-selected business attorney.

A protest convention after the 2012 Oklahoma Convention

Since no one is currently an active surrogate for a declared presidential candidate, we can focus on our own state party's integrity and message. Part of that celebration includes open and spirited debate and elections of our own party leadership. This week a couple more names are emerging as candidates for state chair & vice chair.

One solid leader for State Chairman is Amanda Teegarden. Is the executive director of OK-SAFE, She will be touted by many of the pro-family, pro-life, & pro-sovereignty advocates. Many leaders of Ron Paul's 2012 Oklahoma campaign have expressed admiration for Teegarden's successful defeat of the North American Corridor which would have divided Oklahoma into 2 separate land masses with Mexico and Canada having free-flow in an 'international zone', right through our state.

This writer is confident in Amanda's qualifications, competence, people-skills, and most importantly; CONVICTIONS. The challenges of the office to heal some substantive distrust, will be accelerated by the choice of this consensus candidate. The Tulsa 912 Project director, Ronda Vuillemont-Smith, is also giving strong support to Teegarden.

The Oklahoma Republicans will choose on April 20th, at their state convention.

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